“That is not your responsibility to watch over my investments,” the Raven replied. His voice carried a note of finality, but the younger raven couldn’t let that stand.
“I will not be watching over it but improving it,” she replied.
The Count stared at her darkly, the light of the fading day leaving the window as night unveiled itself, causing the fires in the sconces to flicker their shadows menacingly.
“How does one improve charity? Especially one tainted with a darker motive?”
Ravina forgot herself for a moment and smiled. Adjusting herself, she answered him. “My lord, your motive was not dark. To care for your child so much that you watch over all in the county is truly a noble deed.” This compliment almost proved to be fatal. As Ravina saw his displeasure flood his face, she quickly got to the main point. “Right now, we are facing two problems. The first is the impending war, the likes of which have never been seen before.”
“Yes, this coming war… What would you have, vagrants armed and sent out to die for a warm meal?” His question was asked with a harsh tone that put pressure on the young girl's ears.
“True, it would do little to help them if we only feed them with such expectations. However, I am talking about the during—that is, during the war. When all our strong men are sent to the front lines, who will continue the work they do at home?” With a sharp breath, she quickly added, “This will be a long one, my lord, longer than the current economy can sustain.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because this war will consume the entire continent.”
The air held still at her words, as if to freeze at their chilly meaning. Time slowed, long enough for Ravina to wonder if she had made the right choice in speaking, while the count lifted a leg to cross them, relaxing in the back of his comfortable chair, and eventually spoke one simple word: “Explain.”
Yet, how could she? War was coming, of that she was sure. She was equally sure that she was trapped between the pages of a third-rate novel. Something entertaining to critique but horrid to live in. Worse yet, her memories were like sand trapped in her hands. The grains fell, leaving behind an image missing a few key pieces. The more she struggled with the grains, the more fell and the less she remembered.
In truth, pursuing the challenge of the economy came only from the glistening hint of a classroom memory. The great war had been followed by another, food was scarce, and a depression spread throughout the land… or something like that. Even now, she could not even remember the name of her school. Still, this was a novel—they were predictable things when one read enough of them. Cliché after cliché… one could only hope.
“Naburus and Lenthana have already stopped trading, with Kel’menhar having closed its borders. Even the citizenry can taste the sparks of war. Worse yet, no real moves seem to be made to prevent it. This war is one that all desire. In fact, there appear to be two sides, with many countries set to win the world.” At least that's how she remembered it from her world’s history of the Great War. Or at least it was similar enough… hopefully…
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“Madam Pelman has taught you well… or did she simply divulge this information to you willingly?” Thankfully, the man before her simply thought she was clever.
Thinking that she should have paid more attention in school when she attended it in this world, she let out a quick sigh of relief. “It's something obvious when you pay enough attention to the tones of the world.” Lying was easier now that she was used to it, especially when it was needed to ensure one was not kicked out of their house. It would be a shame to lose such military power, after all.
With a hum, the count offered her a seat on the sofa, to the left of him. “Sit,” he commanded, and without waiting for her reply, he informed her of things she couldn't have known. “The empire has been raising import taxes, high enough that even a common man would avoid crossing the border. Not to mention they outright banned the sale of metal—iron and the like. They claim there are some dungeons giving them trouble recently, but it's very… weak. Besides, mercenary companies are disappearing, being replaced by knightly orders. It's obvious that they want to grow their strength and keep items that would assist a war effort, but something feels…” he held his tongue as he looked out the window, eyeing the moon hovering perfectly in frame. “Wrong.”
It was a rare moment of vulnerability from the man before her. It was unnatural and off-putting. Gods do not show weakness to mortals, and that’s what it felt like just happened. She shifted uncomfortably on the sofa in the silence that followed. Braving her words, she inclined to ask, “What feels wrong?”
He slowly gazed back at her. “The empire is as strong as it is large, yet it is not even a threat to a kingdom. Sure, in a fair fight, it might win, but treaty after treaty keeps the world in check, yet now it seems like they want a war to start. Baiting the kingdoms to attack them, even. And that's the thing, these are not defensive treaties; these are pledges of war. One spark is all that's left, and it becomes them vs us,” he huffed at his frustrations. “Suicide by any other name.”
“What…” Ravina nimbly started, frowning at his words. “What is to say that every kingdom would join this war?” If she remembered correctly, imperial conquests were nibbles, a nation here, a union there. It wasn't as simple as red vs blue.
The count shook his head. “No, it's not as simple as that. Most kingdoms would render only aid, tools, and the like. At most, whoever attacks first would be the one leading the fight, and that is why no one has bitten at the empire yet.”
“But what if a kingdom joined them?” she asked.
“Joined? That would be suicidal. Why would the empire let the kingdom live after wiping out the others?” he shook his head. “No, people don't like to lose power once they get a taste for it.”
“Yet, they could keep it if they simply joined the empire. It takes time to assimilate other nations; it would be easier to allow a few to remain under the banner of the empire. No power lost, but the ability to stand tall before everyone you meet.”
“That’s…” the count looked at her. As he stared, she felt her ears turn red. Of course, the great man before her must have thought about that. It was something rather obvious. If she had a family to look after and the only way to save their lives would be to accept a new king, she would gladly discard her title. Of course, she hadn’t tasted the power that the count mentioned, so it seemed like he knew something she didn’t. However, what Ravina didn't understand was that hindsight is 20/20.
The House of the Raven would rather die than lose itself. If there was a war, they would have to kill the entire house before claiming their land. Even if their king demanded the land, it was so soaked in their blood they wouldn't mind losing the rest to keep it. Yet, not everyone felt the same, and Ravina’s words sounded strange in the count's ears. Cowardly and low… he would have dismissed them were it not for two faces that came to mind. Two people he knew would gladly sell their lands to save their lives.
“Tell me, what plans do you have with the orphanages that would allow the continuation of the economy during the war?”